Jake enjoying his Jamba Juice

Sunday - 09/26/2004

On the way home after visiting Grandpa & Nana E, Jake was so behaved in the car

keeping Daddy company while Mama took a nap.

We stopped by IKEA in Palo Alto and he was so behaved in his stroller,

and he patiently waited in the car with Daddy while Mama was inside shopping at

Anthropologie. So as a prize, we thought we'd stop by Jamba Juice

and get him his own cup.

He was loving the fact that he had his own to hold.

This picture was before the mess happened...

before he punctured the cup and had smoothie

all over his face, his shirt and the car seat.

"What did you say?"

Funniest thing happened last night...

I didn't leave work until 7:30 and by the time I left work, the Big Guy and I decided we'll just eat out for dinner. My boys were patiently waiting for me to get home and by 8pm, I was frazzled as I pulled up knowing they were both hungrily ready to eat. We decided to eat at Fresh Choice since it's just across the street and it's kid-friendly and Jake loves to eat off of their kiddie trays. The boys were walking out the door just as I pulled up (darn gates at our complex is driving me NUTS!) and off we headed to the mall. The second the Big Guy turned right to get into the mall complex, Jake said "mall". We both looked at each other like 'what did he just say?' So I asked him where the moon was, knowing Jake could easily spot it since it was full moon last night. So he pointed outside the window and said "moon." So I pointed at the mall and asked him where we were going. He said "mall". We couldn't help but just start laughing because we didn't even know he can say mall. The Big Guy just had to sigh and say 'well, he is YOUR son!' I called Grandpa D when we got home to brag about Jake being able to say mall - Dad just started laughing because apparently, he and Mom taught him how to say it. Too frikkin' funny!!!

So I'm not going to NY...for more reasons than one. It's ok with me. I don't like being away from my boys. This time, I purposely set up my meetings so I can fly out on Sunday and back on Wednesday. But then the big boss suggested I go shopping (yeah, I'm being told to shop...at work!!!) with Trend so I was supposed to change my flight to leave on a Friday, to shop the weekend and work on Monday. That would've been 6.5 days without my boys. No way!!! So yesterday, I gave my notice that I am not going to NY for Market. Done deal!!

10 boxes packed.... more to go....
My little household is moving starting next week. Bye to our first haven. It's not quite a place we can call our 'own' but it's a bigger place for our growing family. It's literally not even a mile away from where we are now, but the idea of packing my whole house right now is giving me a headache. Last night, the Big Guy and I (me mostly since I'm obsessive compulsive that way) packed about 10 boxes worth of stuff we don't even use: coffee table books, dvds, cds, Jake's baby toys. I started taking the frames off the walls and packed those along with other picture frames. Yes, my boxes are all labeled and I know exactly what's inside each box :). I told you I'm obsessive compulsive :>. 10 boxes packed....WAY more to go.

Happy Birthday, L!
Happy Birthday, Mama J!

Please rise....

It's only 11am and I'm all ready to go home...

Flattered though. Ex-big boss J came by our desks to say Susie Coehlo asked to meet me and Es. She's in the building today going over items and it's been such a crazy couple of days making sure everything is up to par for Susie's visit. I have heard some diva-ish stories about her during the Maison trip in Paris but even after all that, she seems like a nice person. She reached over to shake our hand and after the (very) brief meeting, she stood up and gave us hugs. Whoa! Can I walk around and say a celebrity designer hugged me? I don't like her show on HGTV...but hey, she's nice. What can I say?

Is that you, Elvis?
(Jake at Saks Fifth, busy trying on sunglasses)

"There you are!"

Jake's 18mo antics....

- When we brought Jake to Dr. A's on Friday for his 18mo check up, she asked us if Jake can say words now. I told her he mainly says simple words like moon, shoes, door, house, Mama, Papa, etc... and just babbles a lot as if he's holding a conversation with us. I was looking at Dr. A as I was talking when all of a sudden, my little boy said "There you are!". It was as if he was telling me, "Mama don't forget to tell Dr. A that I can also say 'there you are!' ". It was the cutest thing ever. Jake likes playing hide and seek. He likes to hide behind our wingback chair and waits patiently for Mama or Daddy to ask "where's Jake?" and then you'll see little fingers and toes inching out until he pops out behind the chair. If you're the one pretending to hide and he finds you, that's when he says "there you are!" My little monster :)...too cute!

- Jake doesn't like it when my hair is on my face. When we're on the bed and my hair is not up or in ponytail, he makes it a point to clear my face of any hair. It's too funny.

- Jake puts himself to sleep by putting his hand inside your shirt! I know...weird! He sucks his thumb (which I think is cute but Mom thinks Jake does because he's sad...hehe!) and cuddles next to you when he's sleepy. But lately, he grabs for my sleeve and puts his hand inside. It was so odd. No matter how I try to get his hand out, he keeps it in there. I figured, if this will help him sleep, fine! He does this with the Big Guy too. One night he put Jake down for the night and I was in the living room when all of a sudden, he emerges from the bedroom sans his shirt. I asked him why he was shirtless. He said Jake had his whole arm inside the Big Guy's shirt and the only way he can get off the bed was by taking off his shirt and leaving it with Jake. It was the funniest thing.

- Jake loves airplanes. He can differentiate between big planes and small planes. He absolutely loves it when we sit outside Papa & Grammy D's house because we can see the planes taking off of SJC. The Big Guy said Jake just might want to be a pilot :).

- He said 'cake' for the first time on Saturday, when we were talking about my brother's birthday cake. I notice that he loves words with the 'k' sound. He can say truck, cake, book (this is the new one!).

Happy Birthday, SIL L!

Today is my SIL's birthday. Happy Birthday, L!

Back from hibernation - and busy as hell. Everyone's back in the office this week from India, Shanghai, Paris, Florence, Turkey...where else? As my brother said, this must be one kick @ass job - we get to go places and he gets to go to Redding :). Haha!

The Big Guy and I played hokey on Friday and called in sick and spent the day playing with Jake. It was so fun!!! How we wish we were rich so we can do that everyday!!! Jake had his 18month appointment that day and got 3 shots - my poor boy. At 18mos, he is now 27.4lbs and 33.7" tall. We invited M&D over for dinner and the Big Guy treated Dad for some tri-tip and for Mom, grilled chicken. Now that Jake is using a booster seat, he actually has meals with us at the dining table instead of being in the high chair. It's so fun and I think he likes it more since he gets to be with everyone at the table. M&D stayed long enough for coffee and went home around 11pm. The Big Guy and I stayed up to play Scrabble (I know..we're geeks!).

Saturday was my brother's berfday! Happy Belated Birthday, R! The Big Guy, Jake and I spent the day with M&D in San Leandro to attend their province's fiesta celebration. It was a cold day, but I think Jake had fun running around. It was at the San Leandro Marina and Jake was so elated that he can see the planes landing in OAK that close. He had a blast running around the park with the big boys. We just stayed for the food - there were TONS of food around. We didn't know anyone and M&D would occassionaly run into someone they know but we basically just hung out with each other. We stayed for a couple of hours before heading back home. I don't know what it was that we ate, but it must've had major MSG because all 5 of us were out cold that afternoon. Jake and I took a 3hr nap and the Big Guy fell asleep watching tv in the living room. M&D took a nap as well. We finally woke up at 5, when Mom called to get ready to meet R&Y for dinner to celebrate his birthday. We didn't have any gift for him so we got him sansrival from Goldilocks (which disappeared right away after dinner). We had dinner at this Korean restaurant in Union City (his choice) and went back to his place for cake. It was a good night. Happy Berfday, Dude!

Weird thing - it rained almost the whole day on Sunday. The Big Guy went out on his own to look for cars (yes, we haven't finalized our car selection just yet). We are still debating on what to get but atleast we have narrowed down our selection. Hopefully soon?!?! We went to Cost Plus to get some stuff (and the coolest water bottles we just had to have ;>). I just love their furniture!!! We also went to Target for some more stuff. We said we were just going in to Target for laundry detergent, and we walked out with more than that! Nuts!! I hate how that store just sucks you in!

Those of you who know me know my fascination with Hello Kitty :). The Big Guy was going to throw me a Hello Kitty birthday when I turned 27 but since I was heavily with child (and very moody), the party didn't push through. He even ordered Hello Kitty favors from Manila with the help of my bestfriend C. Anyways, Hello Kitty is celebrating 30 years and Judith Leiber was commissioned to do a crystal purse in commemoration. More Hello Kitty stuff:
- BCBG/Max Azria - silk/cashmere shawl
- Michael Graves – “Purrvilion” cat gazebo
- Kimora Lee of Baby Phat - chic, 18k white gold and diamond charm bracelet
- Mossimo Giannulli - guitar
- Sonia Kashuk - special cosmetic brush set
- Aaron Bethlenfalvy for Nirve - 24K gold plated "Bling-Bling Kitty Kruiser" bicycle.
- Liz Lange - couture maternity outfit

How cute is this?!?!??!

Have a good day people...

What a weird day!

- My friend MT couldn't stop by today since his proposal isn't ready. See - the Big Blue M contacted him (the company) for quotes on office furnishings and he's hoping to bid for the job so they can be our office furniture supplier. I'M SO EXCITED - I hope he gets it! He will not do the proposal himself but he will accompany their sales rep for the presentation. He is SUCH a hotshot business savvy person now...too funny. That's not the MT I know :)!!!

- The Big Blue M announces the President/CEO's resignation effective tomorrow. Last week, it was the VP for Trend. Now, it's the big honcho. Who's next to go? They must've gotten big fat bonus checks. Nuts!!!

- Es is back in the country. She's not back in the office until Monday but tomorrow she might stop by.

- Dinner out with the boys last night. Jake is getting better with his coordination. Less and less food end up on the floor (which means less and less time for me to crawl under tables to clean up his mess). Healthy but hearty dinner. Yum!!! Met up with M&D at the mall - Jake was elated to see Papa and Grammy.

- Driving around aimlessly with the Big Guy. "Can I atleast make a phone call?...Sure, who do you need to call?...Yo` Mama!!!" That's our inside joke... funniest thing. It got us crying in the car. See...he thinks he's the only funny one. I'm so funny I make him cry :)

I'm going home early....enough of this staying late crap. I want to play with the boys.

Oh...
- I saw the grossest thing online today but I'm not going to comment because too many people can read this and I don't want to make even the slightest reference because it's just gross. Like EWWWW gross. Like it gave me the heebie-jeebies kinda gross. AHHH!! My eyes! My eyes!!!
- Long-time-friend-from-HS "E" found me on Friendster. I'll be damned, he's causing major scene in San Diego!!! I knew he came out a while back but I just heard about it and not really see him.
- J&C asking if we want to go to Hawaii with them in November. OH...perfect timing!!!
- My oh-so cute Anthropologie top getting complements.
- That stupid Asheel Simpson song stuck in my head for days already....and yet when I try to sing it to the Big Guy, I don't know the words. Am I weird or what?

Toodles people!

Blast from the Past

The weirdest thing happened to me today....

My long lost friend MT showed up here at work, not knowing I work here and imagine the surprise when I went to the lobby and found him sitting there instead. It feels so good to see old friends, and it makes me sad to think that we have totally lost contact with each other and have missed out on SO many important things that have happened in our lives. To run into MT after 4 years or so of having no communication whatsoever made me so emotional. It felt good to see him again, and to see him so successful and so put together. The last memory I have of him is not very good, and up to that point, I was worried at how he was going to end up. But to see for myself what he has become and how he is leading his life now makes me genuinely happy for him.

MT and I were inseperable in college. He was, like me, confused as to what he wanted to do in life. We had a class together back in '95 and it was one of those friendships that just happened because it made sense. Back in the day, he was one of my so-called (gulp!!!) rice rocket friends (Ok...I give you permission to cap on me starting...NOW!). His oh-so fast Integra was the one thing that consumed him. He's half Japanese/half Filipino and I always had this feeling his Dad, Mr. T, was part of the Japanese Mafia (don't ask me why!) eventhough he was one of the sweetest men I've met. MT back then was all about the car...all about thinking he was all that...all superficial but yes, he was my friend. He was my "steady" date all the time and even when he never admitted it, he probably got so sick of hearing me whine and bitch about the infamous Sandwich Man. But the MT I got to know was a lot different than the MT people saw. He was a gentle person. He was very into family. He loved his mom so much (reminiscent of how the Big Guy regards Mom E.) and in everything he did, he subconsciously had her in mind. He was the closest thing I had to a boyfriend without the commitment (and the priviledges! HA!!!).

At 20, he thought he had his whole life figured out. He wanted a more "mature" persona. He got rid of his rice rocket and got a truck. He moved out of his parents' HUGE house up in the hills and moved into this tiny studio in Oakland. It was the biggest joke that his place was so small once he gets out of bed, he was out the door. He worked for his dad, who owned an office/school furnishing business. Their last name is plastered on this big brick building on your way to the city via Highway 101. But at 23, his life as he knew it, changed over night. Mr T. died of a heart attack at their family home, with only Mrs T at his side. MT has a sister who was married and pregnant and lived across the bay. MT's younger brother, JT was out partying. It was MT who got the first call. He rushed from his place to be at Mrs T's side. The doctors pronounced Mr T. DOA.

MT called me at 2am - and I remember getting so irritated because it was so late (or early) for a phone call. I remember snapping at him and him apologizing to me. Then he said he just wanted to let me know that Mr. T passed away. I didn't go to work that day and instead drove up to the house at 6am to be with him. I can still see Mrs. T sitting at the dining room table, quietly grieving. MT took charge of everything that needed to be done. He knew he had different responsibilities starting then. For the following days, I was with him: booking the funeral home, choosing the casket, printing the service cards, ordering the flowers, ordering food, etc... After the funeral, he moved back home to be with his mom. He took pointers from his dad's business partners and made a commitment to continue working. In my eyes, he grew up overnight.

But all of that sudden responsibility left him angry inside. He alienated himself from everything that was part of his life prior to his father's death, and sadly that included me. I didn't understand it at first but in my heart, I knew he had to do what he had to do and so I stepped back.

Four years have passed.
We have not heard from each other since then.
I don't know why I didn't try to get in touch with him. Maybe subconsciously I had to let it go.
So many things have happened since then.
I have a wonderful life with a family that I love.
I could've wished he knew how things have evolved for me.
I could've wished I knew how things turned out for him.

But seeing each other today - it was as if there was never a lull moment.
He'll be back here in the office tomorrow and we'll have time to chat a bit more.
I can't wait to tell him all about the Big Guy and my little monster.
I can't wait to tell him how good life has been for me.
I can't wait to hear how he's been.
I can't wait to hear all about him.

What a wonderful blast from the past.
I just hope it doesn't take another 4 years to hear from each other again.

Toodles people. Take care of your friends.

What a cutie!!!

Welcome Baby Marcelo Orlando Enriquez Alfonso. Born 8/25/2004

R forwarded me pictures of Baby Marcelo...who I think looks just like his mommy. R & L must be so ecstatic right now. Welcome Little One. Jake has a new buddy.

Why does Shrek look happier than Jake?

Happy Grandparent's Day, Grammy and Papa! We love you! Inna, Bel and Jake

It's as if I never left...

Back from oblivion from what feels like forever being gone....

- Left for and came back from Seattle last week. Short but long trip. I've never been to Seattle before so it was great to see the city although it wasn't anything spectacular - it was just like SFO. I loved the fact that they had the Nordstrom Flagship smack in downtown Seattle. That was heaven :). Who knew there's even a Todai in Seattle? I thought that was just a Bay Area thing. The weather was great. It was a great respite from the Bay Area heat wave we had just before I left. It started to rain when I was flying back to OAK. There were a total of 10 of us that traveled to Seattle and with a group that big, drama was inevitable. Made me want to throw myself out of the plane >. Walked from downtown to the pier just to see the infamous Pike Place Market I tell you - I think Pike (or whoever owns that place) makes it a requirement to be handsome and fit to work for them. All them guys were cute! And you should see the ladies around the stall - it was like a meat market (haha...get it?@?!). The ladies (including me, T and M) were ready with our cameras just incase some fish-tossing happened. It did - but the fish was thrown a bit too fast that we didn't catch it in action. My visit to the fish market was complete :). T and I decided to head out to the Space Needle, since after all, we were already in Seattle. Might as well. I was surprised that there was nothing around that area at all. There was the Science Museum which looked like blah...and across the street was the new stadium for the Seattle Mariners but other than that, there was nothing else to do but go up. T and I ended up having dinner at Sky City - the Needles revolving restaurant. The food was good but soooooooo expensive. The view was just amazing. Good food. Good company. Great night. After dinner, we stepped out onto the observation deck and took more pictures eventhough it didn't come out since it was dark by then. We took the cab back to the hotel and called it a night. The class was very informative. The professors had the thickest NC drawl I have ever heard. Reminded me of my friend Paul R from Raleigh. I wonder whatever happened to him. Now, I know all about cotton :).

- The Big Guy said Jake was in his best behavior while I was gone. The boys just decided to stay at home rather than sleep over at M&D's and the Big Guy did just fine :). They came to pick me up in OAK on Friday and Jake woke up a bit when we got home and gave me the "Is that really you, Mama?" look and fell back asleep in my arms. Man, I missed my boys!!

- Weekend was quiet. Spent most of the day Saturday sleeping with my boys. That was the best thing!!! We had dinner with M&D, C and the girls to spend Grandparent's Day (which was Sunday). After so much debate on where to eat, we ended up at this hole in the wall Filipino restaurant in Newark. The place used to be Ma Mon Luk but now the name has changed but according to the Big Guy, the menu was basically the same. It was fun. Jake was amusing Mom on the drive to and from dinner; he wouldn't let Mom doze off in the car.

- The Big Guy cleaned up the patio yesterday and now, Jake is in heaven playing around pushing his cars and all. I did good - I managed to sort through 2 of Jake's never-ending bins of clothes and donate the ones I don't want to keep. I also had one paper bag's worth of shoes that I outgrew (pregnancy caused me to gain 1/2" length) and more clothes. I drove Mom to visit her friend who just had surgery and brought Jake with us. The Big Guy went with Dad to get Dad's new computer table. Dinner was at their favorite Vietnamese restaurant :). Dropped Mom & Dad off and to Target we went.

So many things to do.
....Yes - I'm still ironing. Don't ask me why I'm so fascinated with it but I sure as hell am.
....Yes, the weight loss isn't progressing, but not quite giving up yet. If you hear me scream bloody hell, it's because I've given up (for now).
....Yes, the search for a bigger place is still on.
....Yes, the search for my new car is still on.

....and it's almost Christmas again.

Belated Happy Birthday, M.
Belated Happy Birthday, J.
Happy Birthday, R and LCM.
Happy Birthday, L.
Happy Birthday, L.
Happy Birthday, T.
Happy Birthday, J.
(Nuts! That's a lot of birthdays!!)

I need to:
- book my New York trip
- book my hair appointment
- lose weight (here I go again).

Toodles people!

Have a good 3 day weekend people!

Toodles!